Charting a new course for Los Angeles Schools.

This is Nick's plan to L.I.G.H.T. a path toward a new system of public schools in LA.

Local Control and Autonomy

The Los Angeles Unified School District covers 27 cities, 710 square miles, and over 660,000 students. It should come as no surprise, then, that what works in one community may not work in another. I want to give our schools more local control to make the decisions that are right for them. We need more flexibility over school structure, budgeting, staffing, and community partnerships so that every classroom reflects its community and every educator can teach students at their level.

Innovation and Creative Thinking

The same old teaching methods are no longer working - we need new ideas. I will promote creativity in school design, classroom learning, and district governance. I plan to use technology to support families and schools and to find new ways to partner with LA’s creative industries. And we need to share best practices across schools, from neighborhood schools to magnets to charters, so that all schools can learn from what works.

Great Choices for All Families

Regardless of zip code, families deserve access to great public school choices, including local neighborhood schools, innovative magnet programs, and nonprofit charter schools. And we need to help parents navigate those choices more easily. I will work to put all school options in one place, and I will help schools unify the application process and deadlines so all parents can choose the right school for their child. I'll also work to expand access to free preschool and pre-k programs throughout the city. Finally, I'll work to stop the spread of vouchers and other models that undermine our public schools.

Human Capital Development and Support

We need to overhaul the District’s policies to better support our educators. I will work to incentivize high-performing teachers to teach in the schools that need them most. I also want to give teachers the training and support they need to become the best educator they can be. To do that, LAUSD needs a systematic way to recruit, develop, place and retain highly effective teachers.

Transparency and Accountability

The time has come for a new era of transparency and accountability. For too long, parents, students, and taxpayers have been kept in the dark about what’s going on in District headquarters, from the true fiscal situation to graduation rates to facility needs. I want to modernize the District’s website so our parents, students, and taxpayers can access real information about their schools and the system. You deserve to know exactly what your representatives are doing, or failing to do, to improve your schools.